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| Bo Xilai corruption trial not likely until after March, reports say | Bo Xilai corruption trial not likely until after March, reports say |
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| The trial of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai is not likely to begin until after annual political meetings in March, a state-run newspaper has said. | The trial of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai is not likely to begin until after annual political meetings in March, a state-run newspaper has said. |
| The report, which cited a source close to the country's top judicial body, came in response to claims that the case would open in the southwestern city of Guiyang on Monday. | The report, which cited a source close to the country's top judicial body, came in response to claims that the case would open in the southwestern city of Guiyang on Monday. |
| A court official there told Reuters that news of an imminent trial was "fake information", adding: "It is definitely not happening today." | A court official there told Reuters that news of an imminent trial was "fake information", adding: "It is definitely not happening today." |
| Bo, 63, was a charismatic but divisive leader who some had tipped for a spot on the country's highest political body in last year's leadership transition. | Bo, 63, was a charismatic but divisive leader who some had tipped for a spot on the country's highest political body in last year's leadership transition. |
| But he endured a spectacular fall after his former police chief Wang Lijun fled to a US consulate last February claiming Bo's wife Gu Kailai had poisoned a British businessman. She was later convicted of Neil Heywood's murder. | But he endured a spectacular fall after his former police chief Wang Lijun fled to a US consulate last February claiming Bo's wife Gu Kailai had poisoned a British businessman. She was later convicted of Neil Heywood's murder. |
| State media said in September that the former party secretary of Chongqing faced prosecution. No formal charges have been announced but official news agency Xinhua said at the time that he bore major responsibility in relation to the murder, had abused power and taken massive bribes. It also accused him of maintaining improper relationships with women. | State media said in September that the former party secretary of Chongqing faced prosecution. No formal charges have been announced but official news agency Xinhua said at the time that he bore major responsibility in relation to the murder, had abused power and taken massive bribes. It also accused him of maintaining improper relationships with women. |
| The suggestion his trial would begin this week gained ground because it appeared in Ta Kung Pao, a newspaper published in Hong Kong but backed by Beijing. | The suggestion his trial would begin this week gained ground because it appeared in Ta Kung Pao, a newspaper published in Hong Kong but backed by Beijing. |
| But the unnamed source in the Global Times report, which appears to have been published only in English, said: "The information in terms of the date and location for the trial will certainly be made public in advance, and it's unnecessary to make speculations [sic]." | But the unnamed source in the Global Times report, which appears to have been published only in English, said: "The information in terms of the date and location for the trial will certainly be made public in advance, and it's unnecessary to make speculations [sic]." |
| He said that the trial might be very complicated and could last up to ten days, adding: "Due to the complexity, the case is likely to be heard after the annual 'two sessions'." | He said that the trial might be very complicated and could last up to ten days, adding: "Due to the complexity, the case is likely to be heard after the annual 'two sessions'." |
| The hearings for Gu and Wang lasted just two days, with judgements delivered around a week later. | The hearings for Gu and Wang lasted just two days, with judgements delivered around a week later. |
| Global Times also said that Bo's lawyers, from the Beijing Dehang law offices, had yet to receive confirmation of when and where the trial would take place, according to an employee of the law firm. | Global Times also said that Bo's lawyers, from the Beijing Dehang law offices, had yet to receive confirmation of when and where the trial would take place, according to an employee of the law firm. |
| On Saturday, the mayor of Chongqing said local authorities had worked to eradicate any repercussions of the "extraordinary" events of the last year. | On Saturday, the mayor of Chongqing said local authorities had worked to eradicate any repercussions of the "extraordinary" events of the last year. |
| Speaking at a political meeting in the city, Huang Qifan said: "Against such an exceptional backdrop and complex circumstances, we resolutely followed the decisions of the party ... and worked hard to banish the serious impact of the Bo Xilai and Wang Lijun cases." | Speaking at a political meeting in the city, Huang Qifan said: "Against such an exceptional backdrop and complex circumstances, we resolutely followed the decisions of the party ... and worked hard to banish the serious impact of the Bo Xilai and Wang Lijun cases." |
| He added: "Chongqing citizens have weathered storms and withstood ordeals." | He added: "Chongqing citizens have weathered storms and withstood ordeals." |
| According to reports of his speech, carried by Chinese news sites, he warned that Chongqing could only enjoy real success by following the party's leadership, adding that it must not allow "vanity projects" that "tire the people and drain money". | According to reports of his speech, carried by Chinese news sites, he warned that Chongqing could only enjoy real success by following the party's leadership, adding that it must not allow "vanity projects" that "tire the people and drain money". |
| Bo made waves nationally with his populist campaigns, which ranged from a "sing red" campaign promoting the mass performance of revolutionary songs to the "strike black" drive against organised crime and a billion pound tree-planting scheme. But while many in the city lauded his leadership, others accused him of trampling over the law and ruthlessly attacking critics. | Bo made waves nationally with his populist campaigns, which ranged from a "sing red" campaign promoting the mass performance of revolutionary songs to the "strike black" drive against organised crime and a billion pound tree-planting scheme. But while many in the city lauded his leadership, others accused him of trampling over the law and ruthlessly attacking critics. |
| "We must strictly define authority in accordance with the law and ... never allow any group or individual to have special rights which exceed the constitution or the law," Huang told the meeting. | "We must strictly define authority in accordance with the law and ... never allow any group or individual to have special rights which exceed the constitution or the law," Huang told the meeting. |
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